NEW YORK -- Kevin Youkilis is leaving the major leagues after an injury plagued season and heading to Japan. [url=http://www.the

NEW YORK -- Kevin Youkilis is leaving the major leagues after an injury plagued season and heading to Japan. Carlos Zambrano Cubs Jersey . The three-time All-Star has agreed to a one-year contract with the Rakuten Golden Eagles of Japans Pacific League. "They made it very apparent right from the start they were quite interested in Kevin being there," agent Joe Bick said Friday. A 34-year-old first baseman and third baseman, Youkilis will have a $4 million base salary and can earn $1 million in bonuses -- including some based on walks, a provision not allowed in major league contracts. After nine seasons with the Boston Red Sox, Youkilis signed a $12 million, one-year deal with the New York Yankees. But his back started to bother him in mid-April, and an epidural injection didnt improve a lumbar spine sprain. Sidelined from April 27 to May 31, he went back on the DL on June 13, had surgery a week later to repair a herniated disk and didnt return. Youkilis hit just .219 with two homers and eight RBIs over 28 games and 105 at-bats. "Theres no reason to believe hes anything less than 100 per cent," Bick said. "Workouts are going normally." Youkilis has a .281 average in 10 big league seasons with 150 homers and 618 RBIs, and he earned a World Series ring with the 2007 Red Sox. At Rakuten, Youkilis may become teammates with star pitcher Masahiro Tanaka, who went 24-0 last season, While Tanaka wants to join the major leagues, Rakuten is reluctant to make him available in the new posting season, and the 25-year-old right-hander cant leave as a free agent until after the 2015 season. "We were talking with eight or nine other clubs over here," Bick said. "In the final analysis, he said the right thing for my family and me is to go do this. It will be a wonderful life experience." Ryne Sandberg Jersey .Mila Kunis was a guest on Kimmel last night and revealed a surprising side of herself that comes out when she watches sports. It turns out screaming something vulgar at professional athletes is therapeutic for Kunis. Joe Maddon Jersey . In the late match, Shinji Okazaki scored two goals to pace Mainz to a 3-2 victory at Werder Bremen. Goals from Milan Badelj, Maximilian Beister and Hakan Calhanoglu ended Hamburgs two-match losing run and kept Hannover winless in seven games. http://www.thecubsteamshop.com/Cubs-Billy-Williams-Kids-Jersey/ . "Rob brings a wealth of coaching experience, having worked both in Canada and overseas in player development," Canada Soccer technical director Tony Fonseca said in a release.The truth is that parents at hockey games can get out of control. We all know thhis, but in case you need a reminder, here one is. Jon Lester Jersey. ' ' '